718 THE AURORA BOREALIS. 



** gleams of light continuous with the streamers could be seen 



" between the houses of the town and myself like the portions of 



" a rainbow intervening between terrestrial objects and the ob- 



" server. I tried to ascertain if there was any reflection or other 



^' cause of optical illusion, but could not see it as other than a real 



" effect ; I seemed to be in the Aurora." 



6. The Aurora, Sir Edward Belcher.. 



December 2nd. — An aurora was seen at 9.20 p.m. A light 

 narrow streak through the zenith, S. by E. true. Four cumulus- 

 shaped masses over the mast heads. Electrometer was not 

 aifected. 



From 4 p.m. to midnight there was great westerly disturbance 

 of magnetometer amounting to 137*80°, equal to 27*60° of deflec- 

 tion. At 8 p.m. it was 1 17 * 30° ; at 9. p.m. 116 * 50° ; at 10 p.m. 

 120*60°. 



The barometer, during the interval between 8 p.m. and midnight, 

 suddenly changed from 29 * 86 to 29 * ^^, rising again to 29 * 90, 

 when the magnetometer showed 107 * 90° at 4 a.m. 



On the 5th, 6th, 9th, and 10th of December there were further 

 exhibitions of aurora, preceded or followed by slight disturbances 

 of the magnetometer. 



On the 12th, at 3 a.m., the aurora was reported as very 

 brilliant. The magnetometer exhibited the most unmistakeable 

 signs of disturbance, moving instantaneously from 114° to 128°, 

 and up to 150°, returning at 4 a.m. to 117 * 90°. 



About the 14th and 15th of February 1853 the weather under- 

 went unexpected changes, the temperature rising as high as 2 * 5° 

 above zero. This was a day or two before the return of the sun, 

 and the magnetometer exhibited sudden and incomprehensible 

 disturbances. 



7. Dr. Hayes' Observations of Aurora. 

 Aurcyras. 



In the winter of 1860-61 {i.e., when the 10 or 11 year in- 

 equality was at its maximum), only three auroras were seen and 

 recorded, and they were feeble and short. 



Jan. 6, 11 a.m. Eed aurora seen in the north from the horizon 

 to the zenith ; lasted about 15 minutes. Aurora seen again in 

 the evening. 



Jan. 11. Heavy mist on the ice; 3 p.m., aurora to the west; 

 extended to the zenith ; lasted 10 minutes. 



Feb. \^. An aurora at 9 p.m. in the west ; lasted 10 minutes; 

 2^"" to 30° high. 



Last two auroras seen in direction of north end of magnetic 

 needle, over an area of open water present throughout the 

 winter. 



